It’s the time of year a food-lover’s mind turns from hot chocolate and heavy stews to light, fresh foods and lemonade stands.

Accordingly, Columbia’s farmers markets are gearing up for a ravenous season.

Columbia is home to a surprising number of fresh food options for mid-Missouri.

**The Columbia Farmers Market**

Vendors to this market are required to grow or raise the products they sell, and to live within about 55 miles of Columbia. The market has more than 90 vendors as members.

Market Manager Caroline Todd said the farmers market, which has been operating since 1980, enjoys success because Columbia is very supportive of local food.

The market was officially open during the winter for the first time this year, located at the Rockbridge Christian Church. The decision to keep the market going year-round was prompted by an unofficial farmers market at Café Berlin, which received a good response.

“Winter offers crops that can over winter with proper storage, such as long neck

squash,” Todd said. “But there’s more vendors in the summer, because more people grow outside.”

It’s not just the vendors that are more plentiful in the summer. Todd said there are many more buyers present in the warmer months.

**Clover’s Natural Food Market**

Clover’s has been open for 10 years, but its owners have previous experience as employees at now-closed Columbia Specialty Foods.

Clover’s may not offer fresh foods directly from the farmer, but the store stresses their loyalty to “natural foods.” The website boasts a list of ingredients not found in their products, such as high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, steroids and many other unappetizing words. Clover’s carries a wide array of products, so it’s not entirely local, but it would be the place for those hard-to-find organic products, especially vitamin supplements and herbs.

**Boone County Farmers Market**

This weekend morning market, located in the parking lot of the Sanford-Kimpton Health Department Building, will start up again on the first Saturday in April. The Boone County market is similar to the Columbia Farmers Market, but with different vendors, some of whom make their entire livelihood at the market.

Market Manager Mick Fleming said farmers markets are better options than natural foods stores.

“Our produce will be fresher,” Fleming said. “Veggies they bring in on Saturday usually get picked on Friday. The fresher they are, the better they’ll taste.”

Fleming said lettuce, radishes, spinach, peppers and tomatoes will soon be on sale at markets, based on the growing season. In addition, the market offers beef, pork, chicken and eggs.

**The Root Cellar**

Store Owner Walker Claridge said The Root Cellar focuses on local foods in the summer.

“We like to maintain that direct farmer to shopper relationship as much as possible,” said Claridge, who also co-owns Broadway Brewery. “In the winter, we order organic produce to supplement the small range of produce available.”

Claridge, who has been running the store for 11 years, said he doesn’t focus on organic goods as much as Clover’s.

“We’re more focused on local,” he said. “We get into the vitamin and herb market. We’re both committed to supporting local farmers and economically sustaining our community.”

Claridge said he believes the demand for natural foods is on the rise.

“It’s the only part of the food industry that’s growing,” he said. “People have realized that it’s here to stay.”

A natural foods market is more convenient than a farmers market, Claridge said, pointing out that his business is open six days a week.

With the warming weather, the Root Cellar will soon be bringing Columbia beets, spinach, swiss cheese, broccoli and onions.